Softball wins gritty series finale on Senior Day against Ball State
Senior outfielder Andrea Perlberg of the Central Michigan Women's Softball Team makes contact against Western Michigan April 2 at Margo Jonker Stadium.
Head coach Margo Jonker has been coaching in excess of 40 seasons, the last 39 with Central Michigan softball.
She has coached in the 2000 Olympics and coached volleyball for three years.
One thing that remains the same?
A soft spot for seniors.
Her Chippewas (20-24-1, 9-7-1 Mid-American Conference) were able to secure a 10-8 victory over Ball State (32-18, 9-8) on Senior Day in Margo Jonker Stadium.
She said that she was happy to send her seniors out the right way in the stadium that bears her name.
"It's great to walk out of here with a win," Jonker said. "Especially for our senior class. They fought and Ball State is going to fight, and I told them that the game wasn't over until the last pitch is thrown."
The Chippewas now sit in third position in the MAC standings heading into the final weekend. Miami (OH) has a three-game lead on Kent State.
The Cardinals struck first in the first inning as freshman right-hander Kaitlyn Bean allowed a two-out, bases loaded walk that drove in centerfielder Haley Dominique after she led the inning off with a double.
CMU seemed to score at will in the second inning as senior second baseman Rachel Vieira led the inning off with a double to left field. The Chippewas were able to bat around the order and score seven runs via four errors from the Cardinals.
Ball State would end the afternoon with five errors in total.
"We just kept making good contact," Jonker said. "We ran the bases well and when they made a mistake we were able to stay with it and I was happy for them."
Ball State would strike back in the third inning as it tagged Bean for three runs in that inning. Bean was then relieved for by sophomore right-hander Samantha Howell after allowing four runs (all earned) on five hits and dispatching five walks in 2 2/3 innings of work.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Chippewas were able to extend their lead on a head-scratching play. After Curtis and Hansen led the inning off with base hits and putting runners on the corners, the two executed a double steal. That steal was aided by the third error of the game from shortstop Hailey Demnianiuk.
The Cardinals would then strike back in the top of the sixth. Designated player Janae Hogg and third baseman Stacy Payton cut their deficit with back-to-back home runs off of Howell. Hogg's round-tripper was of the two-run variety and sailed over the left field wall while Payton's lifted over center field.
Howell was removed in favor of sophomore right-hander Cole Mallory. Howell had a similar result to Bean, four runs (all earned) on four hits and allowing one base on balls in her 2 2/3 innings pitched.
CMU heads to Toledo for its final regular season series against the Rockets. The first of the three-game set begins at 3 p.m. on May 3 at the Scott Park Softball Complex.
